Athletics Canada named its 30-member squad Wednesday with an eye toward the world championships later this summer in Osaka, Japan.

The Pan Am team is virtually the same as the one that will compete in Osaka, said Canadian head coach Les Gramantik. And with perennial track powerhouses such as the U.S. and the Caribbean countries competing in Rio, the Pan Ams are a perfect final tuneup for the world championships.

"This event will allow us to evaluate the preparedness of our top athletes," Gramantik said in a release.

Canada won 10 medals in track and field at the 2003 Pan Ams in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The 2007 edition has two medallists from that team _ Achraf Tadili, who won gold in the 800 metres, and Felicien, silver medallist in the 100-metre hurdles. Read full story